Apparatus for cutting piles or the like by means of gases.



C. F. GESSERT & J. W. WHITFORD. APPARATUS FOR CUTTING PILES OR THE LIKE BY MEANSOF GASES. APPLICATION FILED PEB.20,1911.

1,000,399, Patented Aug. 15,1911.

. 4 N T D STATES rAr nr OFFICE.

, cmnns Esn'ssnnr, or-nnooxnm, NEW- rome, am Join: wamnn wnrrronn, or

, 'Toia Z'Z it'ma'y concern:

' 1 JERSEY i CITY, ."NEF' JERSEY, ASSIGNOBS T0 DAVIS-BOUBNONVILLE ACETYLENE.

DEVELOPMENT COMPANY OF PIEEEBE, SOUTH DAKOTA, A GOBPOBAZEEON 0F SOUTH DAKOTA:

nrrann'rus ron cram-me runs on man LIKE. ZBY/MEANS or easns.

' Specification of Letters Patent. P t nt Aig! Application filed February 20,. 1911'. Serial no. 609,569.

Be it known that we, GHAnLns F. Gnssnn'r and J01 i1r'WAL'rnn Wrfi'rrom), citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, in the boroughof Brooklyn, county of and State of New York, and Jersey Ci Hudson county, and ,State of New Jersey, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus'for- Cutting Piles or the Like by Means of Gases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for cutting metals by means of gases, and more particularly to apparatus'for eutt'mg iles ofi' horizontally, or for cutting other ho ow columns or shafts, whether in a' vertical po-' sition or otherwise. p

In apparatus for cutting by means of gases it 1s the general practice to heat the metal tobe cut by' a jet of a combustible mixture, such asacetylene and oxygen, and to effect the cutting of the metal so heated by means of a jet of oxygen, the two jets being adjacent to each other and the heating et being preferably in the lead as the cutting apparatus is advanced relatively to the Work along the line of the cut.

. The present invention relates to novel means for supporting the jet apparatus from the pile or the like and for causing it to progress slowly and evenly around the a pile in such fashion as to insure that the construction progress of oxidation will not be inter-, rupted. The number and arrangement of the jets themselves, the conduits for the gases, and the provisions for effecting a combustible'mixture, may be varied in accord-; ance'with approved or preferred practice.

[he object of the invention is to provide a suitable support adaptedto be positioned about the shaft to be cut, acarriage movable on the support about the shaft so as to cause the jet means, to complete the circuit of the shaft, and suitable operating means for eflecting gradual ,movement of the carea 7 x V nother object 'is to provide a sectional or the support and also for the carriage, which-latter is preferably an' annulus, together with suitable means for holding the sections rigidly in assembled relation, .so" that 'the apparatus can be quickly and conveniently applied around and removed from the pile or the like. 7

Y A further object is to enable the jet ap- "paratus to be moved toward and from the shaftbeing out, both so that the cutting means can be shifted away from the work and so-tha-t the nozzles may automatically maintain an invariable distance from the work. j

In the particular embodiment of the invention shown and described herein for purposes of illustration the general object has been toattain a high degree of simplicity and strength, together with ease of operation.

With these and other objects in, view, the invention consists, in various parts,

Istructures and combinations, specifically illustrated in the accompanylng drawings,

and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings illustrating-this referred embodiment of the invention: Figure 1 is a side elevation'of the apparatus applied to a pile; Fig. 2 is a plan view; Fig. 3 is a vertical section in the plane of the joints of the sectional carriage; Fig.- 4: is a detail vertical section on the line 4-4: of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a detail plan view showing one pair of abutting ends of the sectional annular carriage, the locking means being removed; 1 v

The particular embodiment of the invention shown .inthese drawings will now be briefly described, it being understood that numerous other specific embodiments may bedesigne'd.

The numeral 10-:indicates a substantial support-preferably annular, with its central opening for the reception of the pile or column, the latter being -indicated'at 11. This support is formed of sections, preferably two semicircular halves,- and means are pro-' vided for connecting the sections-rigidly together in assembled relation. Suitable and simplemeans includeyvertically apertured interengaging tongues Preferably, end of this 10:

being preferably projections 12 formed on the meeting ends of the sections, and tapered or headed pins13removably recelved 1n the apertur'es in these tongues. The assembled annular supportis clamped to the pile by suitable means, such as a radial clamp screw 14having an operating head or handle 15. the pile is clamped between the screw and two internal projecthe support, these threepomts spaced equidistantly. The 16 are preferably vertical ridges o'r strips, so as to hold the apparatus truly on the pile. The adjustability of'the screw 14 enables the support to accommodate shafts having some variation in diameter, and the apparatus may be designed for-as large a range of adjustment in this regard as may be desirable. It will be obvious that either of the joints 12, 13 constitutes a hinge connection.

A carriage is rotata ly supported and uided on the support 10, and this carriage tions 16 on is preferably of the annular form indicated erably comprising semlcircular halves.

refuitable means are provided for locking these halves together, such as plates 18 pivoted by a screw or pin 19 to one end of each section and having at 17. This carriage also sectional,

parts against loosening. The ends of the j carriage sections may be gaging tongues and sockets 50 and 51.

The annular carriage 17 preferably rests on an annular flat seat 23 formed on the support 10 and turns on a circular external be'aring24 also formed thereon.- In order to avoid looseness, narrow flanges 25L are formed .on the support at the top of the bearing 24, so as to overhang the "annular carriage. Thus, the carriage is received be-' tween side bearings, constituted by the seat 23 and'the flanges 25. The fastening devices for the sections of thecarriage, such as the plates 18 and screws 21 just described,

. are located so as to be entirely accessible and attained by forming gear teeth 26 on free from the flanges 25. The flanges 25 are particularly useful in event of the pile or shaft being in an inclined or horizontal position.

For driving the carriage slowly and uniformly a reducing gearing is employed, and it isfound that a worm gearin as herein illustrated is peculiarly adapted or the particular purpose. The greatest simplicitylis t e annular carriage 17, preferably on the outer periphery thereof,to constitute the carriage a worm gear. A tangential worm shaft '27 transversely inclined slots 20 which take over pins or screws 21.

provided with enwith its worm meshing with this split" ear. The "operating handle 29 is preferably ed directly to" the worm shaft. By ans con-. struction maximum simplicity and cdmp actness, together-with best operation, are secured.

In accordancewith the invention a suitable head 30 is mounted on the carriage and is movable toward and fromthe work. Preferably, thehead is, pivoted to the carjournaled in bearings 28 on the support riage, as by the vertical Fpivot pin 31,. so 1 Q that the head can be swung away om and back.to the work. Means are provided, also, for vertical adjustment of the head on the carriage, so that, the cut may be attached at exactly the desired height, In the particular construction illustrated,"- the head isprovided with a split sleeve portion 32,-which may be clamped to a sleeve 34 by means of a ban edscrew 33. -Means are also provided for rigidly hol A the head 7 pivotal movement when esired, foril ustration of which we have shown a handledscrew 35 and washerj36 for cla-mping the sleeve 34 to the'pivot pin 31.

By reason of the movability of the head 30 this part rendered self-ad'usting, and in this connection it is preferred a spring 37 for urging the head toward the shaft being'cut. As shown, this spring may be a coil spring connecting the head with a pin 38 projecting from the carriage. 'A con-" tact member, a roller 39, is mounted on the head and extends inward beyond the jet orifices hereinafter mentioned, so as to travel along on the surface of the pile to space the nozzles at a predetermined distance from the work throughout the cutting operation.

to provide most desirably in the form of The gas conduits with their nozzles or jet orifices maybe formed in or attachable to the head 30 in any desirable manner. In the particular construction illustrated, the flexible-pipes 40 and 41 .conveying the oxy-.

gen and acetylene, respectively, for the heatmg jet, are connectedwith conduits in the head, which lead to a removable and'replaceabletip ornozzle 45, which projects horizontally inward of the carriage 17 and in which are mixture of the gases is efiected- The oxygen'for cutting is led through the flexibletube 42 and the pipe 43, the latter being removably clamped to the head and having a horizontal inturned nozzle end 44 located adjacent and in the same horizontal plane as the nozzle 45. Valves 46, 47 and 48 may be provided for the several conduits.

the support 10 is assembled about the pile. and clamped thereto. The

In operation,

annular carriage'is then assembled on the support. l When so: placed in position the carriage covers theupper ends of 13, so that loosening or removal of t ese pins is guardedagamst. 'The head 30, if

the ins,

| e L not already inposition, is placed on, the car! riage and the several gas connections are effected. The heating jet is first turned on, and when the metal at the point played upon is sufliciently hot the. oxygen jet is turned on. The worm gearin is operated- I so as to advance the jets stea ily and at a rate such asto insure that the oxidation will be uninterrupted. The self-adjusting head always maintains the nozzles. at'the proper distance from the column irrespective of irregularities in the surface th rein or a lack of concentricit' between t e "bearing for the carriage'an the ipile, which latter may be. the case if the p has a diameter larger. or smaller than that indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

We claim- 1. the hke bmeans of gases, comprising ani annular support for ed of separable sections, means for locking said sections to getlier and for clamping the support about the pile, an annular carriage mounted rotatably on said support and fgrmed of separable sections provided with'means for locking them together, jet means carried by the, carriage for directing gas for heating nd cutting'upon the pile, gear teeth on said ectional carriage, a worm mounted on the support meshing with said vgear teeth, and a handle also mounted onithe' support for rotating said worm.

2. Apparatus for cutting metal piles and the .like by means of gases, comprising'a support adapted to be secured to the pile or the like, a carriage with heating and cutting jets adapted to travel around the pile to be I about the pile to be cut, said carriage being sai adapted to be mounted rotatably on said support and to retain said, pin therein.

4. Apparatus for cutting metal piles and the like by means of gases, comprismg a sectional support adapted to enclrcle .the pile or the like, means for holding the sections thereof rigidly in assembled relation, means for clamp ng the support to the pile to be out, a carriage with heatingand cutting ets. ada ted to travel around the pile to be cut,

carriage being-a section'al annulus ro- .ment with said slots.-

pparatus for cutting metal piles and t vided withgear teeth, means for hol ing the sections of said'carriage in assembled relation, and operating means mounted on the support and-includmga crank handle and a gear engaging with said gear teeth.

5.. Apparatus for cutting metal piles and the like y means of gases, comprislng a sectional support adapted to be secured about the pile or the like, jet means for directing the gases upon the pile to be cut, a sectional annular carriage for said jet means mounted rotatably on sald support th. encircle the pile, lockin plates pivotedon top of the sections of sai carria e at the ends thereof-and provided with ohli ue. slots, and pins on the abutting ends 0 saidsections for engage- 6. Ap aratus for cutting metal piles and the hke y means of gases, comprising-a carnage adapted to travel about the pile, means i a head on the carriage and gas cutting means carried by the'liead, said head being adjust able on the carriage parallelto the axis of the pile.

or supporting said carriage from the pile,

7. Apparatus for cutting metal piles ahd the like. by means of gases, comprising a support and means for securin the same about the pile, a carriage mounte and guided on the support for movement around the pile, and a head mounted on the carria and provided with 'means for directing a j acent heating and cutting jets upon the pile, said head being self-ad ustable on the carriage toward and from the work and being also adjustable and ldckableon-"the carriage in directions parallel to the axis of the pile.

8. Apparatus for cutting metal piles and the like by means of gases, comprising a support and means for securing the same about the pile; an annular carriage mounted and 'ded on thesupport and means for rotating the carriage about the pile, a pivot pin on "said carriage parallel to the axis thereof, and a head carrying jet means mounted on said pin so as to permit said jet means toapproach or recede from the work, said head including a sleeve mounted to turn on said pin and a sleeve forming part of the head proper, and means for clamping the latter sleeve at various elevations on the former sleeve. 1 v

ed rotatablyonsaid pin, means for locking I said sleeve to-said pm, a gas-cuttin head carrying jet-directing means at a dlstance from sald pmyand means for clamping'said head to said sleeve at various elevations thereon. a 10. Ap aratus for cutting metal piles and the like y means of gases, comprising an 115 a 9. Apparatus for cuttingmetal piles and a nnu lar I pted 10 he jhout .witpess ivhereof we have set our hen d5 fthglpih, angzlflnl 1' 2m reQa- 1n the" presence of subscribing witnesses.

o' talfy. sup ortmg'thehead'on the (nu-mange v I CHARLES F'GESSERT' t cfswing it out an parallel tojzhe axispf I JOHN WALTER WH the dance, and jet-dnecting mefins' earned witnesses: e, i

b 'saidjhead at e. disfience frem the pivot Amman SMITH, 

